First near miss :(

[sheffgirl]

Today I had my first near miss, not bad to say I've been cycling for over 2 years, more so lately.
Coming down the hill, it was just before 7am and dark but I had my lights on and the road is well lit. A van pulled out of a give way junction at the last second and forced me do an emergency stop. I really thought I was going to hit it, but fortunately I stopped just short, and shouted 'What are you doing?' at the driver. I was already braking to limit my speed because the road was wet, fortunately.
Thankfully the van wasn't going the same way as me, it shook me up a little. It was a red signwritten van, possibly an N-Power van.
Most of the drivers I meet on my commute are courteous and some even go out of their way to be nice, I know these types of drivers are in the minority, but still
I often thank drivers who don't do what this driver did, and I will continue to do so.

 

[Fubar]

Today I had my first near miss, not bad to say I've been cycling for over 2 years, more so lately.
Coming down the hill, it was just before 7am and dark but I had my lights on and the road is well lit. A van pulled out of a give way junction at the last second and forced me do an emergency stop. I really thought I was going to hit it, but fortunately I stopped just short, and shouted 'What are you doing?' at the driver. I was already braking to limit my speed because the road was wet, fortunately.
Thankfully the van wasn't going the same way as me, it shook me up a little. It was a red signwritten van, possibly an N-Power van.
Most of the drivers I meet on my commute are courteous and some even go out of their way to be nice, I know these types of drivers are in the minority, but still
I often thank drivers who don't do what this driver did, and I will continue to do so.

The same thing happened to me last week, almost to the letter - despite a strobing front light, super-bright Cateye and night vision gear he seemed genuinely not to see me (selective blindness?!?). Thankfully you are ok.

 

[Mo1959]

Today I had my first near miss, not bad to say I've been cycling for over 2 years, more so lately.
Coming down the hill, it was just before 7am and dark but I had my lights on and the road is well lit. A van pulled out of a give way junction at the last second and forced me do an emergency stop. I really thought I was going to hit it, but fortunately I stopped just short, and shouted 'What are you doing?' at the driver. I was already braking to limit my speed because the road was wet, fortunately.
Thankfully the van wasn't going the same way as me, it shook me up a little. It was a red signwritten van, possibly an N-Power van.
Most of the drivers I meet on my commute are courteous and some even go out of their way to be nice, I know these types of drivers are in the minority, but still
I often thank drivers who don't do what this driver did, and I will continue to do so.

You were very polite...........I think I may have had a few extra words in that sentence
Glad you are ok. Certainly gives you a scare.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It's scary. Glad you're ok.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The same thing happened to me last week, almost to the letter - despite a strobing front light, super-bright Cateye and night vision gear he seemed genuinely not to see me (selective blindness?!?). Thankfully you are ok.

Strobing front lights make it very difficult for a driver to judge distance I'm told. I run one strobe one steady.

glad you're ok sheffgirl

Edit: and for @Kies and @MontyVeda I run them front and rear 24x7 whenver I'm out on the road, even my mtbs have front and rear blinkies for the on road bits.

 

[Kies]

Strobing front lights make it very difficult for a driver to judge distance I'm told. I run one strobe one steady.

glad you're ok sheffgirl

Edit: and for @Kies and @MontyVeda I run them front and rear 24x7 whenver I'm out on the road, even my mtbs have front and rear blinkies for the on road bits.

Good to hear .... Just for the record, my lights even have lights ;-)

 

[Mugshot]

I've stopped using a front light on any sort of flashing mode. The only vehicle which you'll see with a flashing front light is a bicycle and I don't necessarily want to advertise that fact. I'm sure that many users of motorised vehicles don't realise the sort of speed which cyclists can reach or alternatively decide that they couldn't possible stand being behind a bicycle, so they see a flashing light, they know it's a bicycle and they pull out. Whereas a bright steady light sows a seed of doubt and they wait (hopefully).
Just my opinion.
Of course it all hinges on whether they've seen you/looked for you at all.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I've stopped using a front light on any sort of flashing mode. The only vehicle which you'll see with a flashing front light is a bicycle and I don't necessarily want to advertise that fact. I'm sure that many users of motorised vehicles don't realise the sort of speed which cyclists can reach or alternatively decide that they couldn't possible stand being behind a bicycle, so they see a flashing light, they know it's a bicycle and they pull out. Whereas a bright steady light sows a seed of doubt and they wait (hopefully).
Just my opinion.
Of course it all hinges on whether they've seen you/looked for you at all.

I've always gone for one solid, one flashing but you make an interesting point. I might go for both on solid for a while and see if there's any difference in driver behaviour, but as you say, if they don't look they won't see you...

 

[akb]

I also dont use my front flasher anymore. I find that the Hope Vision on 50% steady power is adequate enough to a) light the road ahead sufficiently so I can see where I am going at 20mph and b) make me visible to motorists.
Granted, most of my rides are now at night on country roads. Nearly all of the motorists that I see dip their headlights so it sort of fills me with the confidence that they have seen me. I suppose they think I am a motorised 2 wheeler, scotter or motorbike. I also ride primary at junctions too which also adds to the visibility instead of being tucked in at the side of the road.

To the OP, glad you are ok. Well done for keeping your cool! I certainly wouldnt have done!

 

[Fubar]

Strobing front lights make it very difficult for a driver to judge distance I'm told. I run one strobe one steady.

glad you're ok sheffgirl

Edit: and for @Kies and @MontyVeda I run them front and rear 24x7 whenver I'm out on the road, even my mtbs have front and rear blinkies for the on road bits.

Interesting, I run one strobe one steady as well and have the strobe on even it the daylight "to be seen", but I get the point as on the cycle paths it can be difficult to judge how far away another bike is if they are strobing as well. I have wee knog lights that I could always use and have 2 on permanent.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I only use a small front flasher if at all.

But when I had my crash, the bike was wearing a Magicshine (constant) and a Cateye EL350 "CatEye's brightest" on constant...sometimes they will just pull out/across regardless

 

[MontyVeda]

it happens often enough with cars too... if some drivers can't spot a couple of car headlights, what chance does a cateye/magicshine have?

 

[tyred]

it happens often enough with cars too... if some drivers can't spot a couple of car headlights, what chance does a cateye/magicshine have?

It's worse than that. I saw someone almost collide with a fire engine not so long ago after drove ou tin front of it despite the siren and flashing blue lights.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

saw a car force an emergency stop out of an ambulance on two's and blue's this lunchtime in W1

 

[Booyaa]

Glad you missed it! Keep an eye on the brake blocks!